Firearms locking system



8 w. E. FOWLER FIREARMS LOCKING SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1967 V'I'Illlllllllllllllll 'IIlIIIIIII/l United States Patent 3,416,404 FIREARMS LOCKING SYSTEM Walter E. Fowler, 8560 Culfor Crescent, Norfolk, Va. 23503 Filed Apr. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 631,688 1 Claim. (Cl. 89-190) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A locking system for locking the breech bolt of a high power firearm or cannon to the receiver, the locking system comprising a plurality of locking wedges, each wedge being pivoted at its rear end to the breech bolt in such a manner that in the locking position each locking wedge is within a locking wedge recess in the receiver.

This invention is designed to provide a new and stronger locking system, not heretofore used, for high powered firearms and or cannon and to provide for the operation of the breech bolt without a partial rotation, thus simplifying operating mechanisms.

More especially this invention consists of the use of locking wedges 1 rather than locking lugs, to absorb the force of the explosion when the cartridge is fired.

Drawings FIGURE 1Section showing bolt in locked position.

FIGURE 2-Section showing inner bolt sleeve partially retracted.

FIGURE 3Section showing entire bolt partially retracted.

FIGURE 4Side view of bolt.

FIGURE 5-Isometric of locking wedge.

FIGURE 6-End view of bolt. Showing locking wedges extruded and blocking pins.

No attempt has been made to make the foregoing drawings to scale. Some of the items have been exaggerated in size in order to present a clear picture of their function and operation.

In todays high pressure, high powered firearms it is advantageous that the locking devices be on the forward end of the bolt, close to the pressure point.

In most firearms this is accomplished by locking lugs, near the forward end of the bolt being rotated into corresponding locking recesses in the receiver. Thus the explosive force, when the gun is fired is a direct shearing force against the locking lugs.

In my invention pivoted locking wedges 1, are located near the forward end of the outer bolt sleeve 2. Upon fireing, the explosive force on the bolt head tends to drive it to the rear. This is resisted by the triangular shaped locking wedges 1 in three directions; A--against the rear tip of the forward end of the outer bolt sleeve 2; a shearing force; Bagainst the outer bolt sleeve 2 recesses in the receiver, an extrusion force; and C -a compressive force against the outer forward end of the inner bolt sleeve 3. Thus the explosive force with this locking sys tem is diffused in three directions, ratherthan being concentrated against a single point resulting in a stronger action.

The invention consists of a conventional bolt having an outer sleeve 2, an inner sleeve 3, locking wedges 1, and a firing pin 5.

3,416,404 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 ice This bolt is a straight pull and may be operated as a lever action, a pump action, a gas operated action or by conventional bolt handle. In operation all of the operating devices, lever, bolt etc. are connected to the inner bolt sleeve 3.

To operate, assuming the firearm is bolt operated; the bolt handle which is connected to the inner bolt sleeve 3, is drawn straight to the rear. The initial movement of approximately one inch will withdraw the inner bolt sleeve 3 rearward until the blocking pins 6, FIGURES 4. and 6, strike the recess 7, FIGURE No. 4, in the outer bolt sleeve 2. At this point the locking wedges 1 will strip out of their locking recesses in the receiver down into and flush with the outer edge of the outer bolt sleeve 2, see FIGURE No. 2. Then the entire bolt will continue to the rear and eject the spent cartridge, see FIGURE 3.

Reversing the procedure the entire bolt will move forward forcing a new shell into firing position. It will be noted the last approximate forward inch of the inner sleeve 3 bolt movement, closes and locks the piece by forcing the locking wedges 1 out of their position in the outer bolt sleeve 2, up into their locking recesses in the receiver. It will also be noted that the firing pin 5, cont-ained in the inner sleeve 3, is not in a position to fire the cartridge until the bolt is closed and locked, a most important safety feature.

Normally, in order not to interfere with extraction and ejection, these locking wedges '1 should be mounted on the bolt approximately 45 degrees above and below the center line. See FIGURE No. 6.

I claim:

1. A high power firearm or cannon having a barrel, a receiver, and a breech bolt, said breech bolt having an outer bolt sleeve and a slidable inner bolt sleeve with a forward surface, said outer bolt sleeve having a plurality of locking wedges pivoted near the forward end thereof, said receiver having a plurality of corresponding inclined locking wedge recesses therein, each locking wedge having a forward end, a lower forward side, a rear end, and being pivoted at the rear end thereof between a locking and an unlocking position in such a m-aner that in the locking position each locking wedge is within a corresponding inclined locking wedge recess, and each locking wedge, when the firearm or cannon is fired, distributing the resultant explosive forces in three directions: a sheering force against the forward end of the locking wedge, an extrusive force against said inclined locking wedge recess in the receiver, and a compressive force by the lower forward side of the locking wedge against the forward surface of the inner bolt sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,057,329 3/1913 Clams 89-190 X 1,095,738 5/1914 Rostel 89190 X 1,096,679 5/1914 Chronis 89-190 X 2,775,166 12/1956 Janson 89-190 X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

STEPHEN C. BENTLEY, Assistant Examiner.

, US. 01. X.R. 4216 

